Chapter 50

"Really? Well, that's fine. There's no problem with that."

Kairos, the absolute powerhouse who once ruled a third of the continent with a single mace.

If such a person were to become an ally, there would be nothing bad about it for Auto.

Of course, as long as he could be controlled.

If a powerhouse like Kairos were to go berserk, even Auto would find it difficult to handle.

Because the variables caused by Kairos could ruin the plan.

"In return, you must follow my orders. Then I will provide you with a body."

- What? You mean I have to listen to a scoundrel like you?

"It's mine."

Auto said firmly.

"I'll use him. But if you mess things up in the middle and things go wrong, what will you do? I'll suffer too. He's not an easy target. If I mess with him, I might get eaten."

- Hmm…!

"I promise to wait quietly. Then I will set up a stage for your revenge. I will repay you for what you suffered at the hands of Emperor Argon in the past."

- Can you really promise that? Will you set up a stage for revenge if I wait?

"I keep my promises."

- Fine.

Kairos accepted Auto's offer.

- I will follow your control.

"Really?"

- If you set up a stage for revenge, can't you endure this much?

"Okay. Then wait. I will find you a body."

- Understood.

Auto wanted to provide Kairos with a body, even if it was just to avoid the hassle.

If Kairos had a body, he wouldn't have to listen to his whining and complaining about wanting to drink, right?

"But how will you find me a body?"

- Just give a mace to anyone. I'll take care of the rest. I can't kill innocent people, so a death row inmate or a captured prisoner would be suitable.

"That makes sense. But wouldn't a stronger body be better?"

- It doesn't matter. I can strengthen the body. It's not that hard to walk a path I've walked before. I am confident that I can quickly recover my peak strength, no matter what body I get.

"Is that so?"

Auto smiled creepily.

"Kuk… kuk kuk kuk…."

Auto started to laugh.

"…What is it?"

Camille looked uneasy at Auto's chuckling.

"Are you plotting some evil scheme again?"

"An evil scheme? Anyone would think I'm a very cunning and despicable person."

"Isn't that the case?"

"What? Mind your own business! Southam, laugh or don't laugh!"

Auto glared at Camille and then spoke to Kairos again.

"Really, any body will do?"

- Yes!

"What if it's a woman?"

- ……!

"What if it's an old woman?"

- A, a woman! I am a man among men! What do you mean by a woman's body!

"Hey? Is that gender discrimination? Are you belittling women as physically weak?"

- W, what are you talking about! There were many excellent female warriors even in my time!

"But?"

- My identity is that of a man! I refuse a woman's body!

"That sounds interesting…."

- You dare….

"Should I just make you an old woman? Hehehe!"

- Shut up!

Auto continued to tease Kairos, passing the time.

It was quite amusing to see Kairos flustered and fumbling.

- Even joking, you say such nonsense!

It's not a joke?

If Kairos's soul were to inhabit a woman's body….

That would be quite interesting, wouldn't it?

* * *

As soon as Auto returned to the Iota Kingdom, he met Grand Duke Wazir and told him about what had happened.

"Really? You were of the Kuntachi bloodline? Conrad's grandson?"

Wazir was clearly surprised by Auto's story.

Wazir, who had extensive international connections, was quite close to Conrad, Auto's maternal grandfather.

"So, what do you plan to do from now on?"

"For now, I plan to spread and teach the mana manipulation techniques I brought from the Kuntachi family to our army."

"What about after that?"

"I'll tell you later. For now, please focus on internal affairs."

"Is there even anything to do? I spend all day fishing because there's nothing to do."

"Hahaha…."

Wazir is an SSS-rank hero capable of managing a massive empire effortlessly.

To be precise….

'I'm using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.'

It's a waste of talent, you might say.

But as the country grows larger, Wazir's true value becomes more apparent….

'Still, it's incredibly convenient, at this level.'

Auto knew all too well how much administrative work there is, even in a small country.

It looks easy, but there are many things to pay attention to, and it's not uncommon for a day to pass in a blink if you focus on internal affairs.

In other words, Wazir was a very precious existence who saved valuable time, more precious than money.

'With no internal affairs to worry about, I can focus on building up military strength for now.'

After that day, Auto spread the Kuntachi family's mana manipulation techniques throughout the Iota Kingdom's army.

The dissemination was very fast.

Why?

The Kuntachi family's knights, swordsmen, and mages, whom Conrad had assigned to Auto, became instructors and taught the soldiers directly.

With the help of these high-level personnel, the soldiers' entry into the techniques was very quick.

Even the less intelligent soldiers could feel the flow of mana within a week and manipulate it weakly within two weeks.

Moreover, S-rank hero Spooner created a special training program to train the soldiers.

As a result.

[Notification: Level 82 achieved!]

[Notification: Level 83 achieved!]

[Notification: Level 84 achieved!]

[Notification: Level 85 achieved!]

As Auto worked to improve the Iota Kingdom's military strength, he gained experience, and his level automatically increased.

Protagonist characters could gain experience not only by fighting but also by taking actions befitting a ruler.

In the midst of these busy days.

- Brat! When are you going to find me a body!

"Huh?"

Auto, who had been busy, scratched the back of his head as if he had forgotten.

"Sorry. I've been so busy lately that I forgot."

- You can't forget! Is our agreement so trivial to you!

"That's not it~ I've been busy training the soldiers and practicing myself~."

- What a despicable brat!

"Sorry, sorry. I'll find you one right away."

- …….

"Where is the prison…."

Auto immediately headed to the underground prison right below the castle.

* * *

"Y-Your Majesty! Nothing unusual! I am on duty! I greet Your Majesty!!!"

The knight, who had been dozing off as if he had overindulged the night before, jumped up in surprise and saluted when Auto appeared.

"You must be working hard."

"N-No! But, why is Your Majesty here in such a humble place…."

"I want to see some violent criminals."

"Violent criminals, you say…."

"Show me some death row inmates."

"Ah, understood."

The knight, though completely baffled by the order, led Auto to the area where the death row inmates were held without a word.

"Let's see…."

Auto scanned the death row inmates, pointing at them one by one with his finger and muttering to himself.

"Hey, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you